I refuse to vote...

[IndyColtsFan]

I think this is likely even more prevalent amongst conservatives who feel that there are no candidates that represent their views, combined with the innate conservative disinterest in governing.

Bingo. I don't feel a candidate adequately represents my views and I don't trust any of them. As I mentioned earlier, I think the only one that I do trust is Ron Paul and while I agree with some of his views, I generally think he is too radical for me.

I don't have an agenda, I don't complain about how things are going, and I don't vote. I'm just not a political person, it doesn't interest me, and voting is a waste of time, even if you are interested in politics.

My only complaint right now is the continued accumulation of debt by our country. I'm worried for the future of the country.

 

[bfdd]

Your option is to do your best to keep the worst one out. Not voting for the second worst candidate is a vote for the worst candidate.

i disagree, you're selling yourself out for what? nothing, because you won't get what you want. i won't let the tyranny of group think control my life.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

You people didn't vote for Democrats to keep it from happening. Now you justify it by saying it would have happened anyway. Bull shit.

My state went for Bush in 2000 and 2004. How exactly would I have "kept it from happening" by voting for the two idiots he ran against? The two choices in those elections were literally between "Dumb" or "Dumber."

Neither side has shown fiscal responsibility. You can scream about the Bush tax cuts all you want (they were irresponsible), but I don't consider the Democrat's health plan a wise idea either and you will see that because it has no cost containment provisions that changes will have to be made or costs will continue increasing.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

i disagree, you're selling yourself out for what? nothing, because you won't get what you want. i won't let the tyranny of group think control my life.

Exactly. I will never allow myself to vote for "the lesser of two evils." If there isn't a candidate I truly want to vote for, I won't vote. It really is that simple.

 

[soulcougher73]

If you take 10 million crybaby whiners who all refuse to vote because they have your mindset, there are 10 million lost votes.

Each voice is but a whisper, but when combined they make a might shout.

You may want to read up on this little thing called the Electoral College and how it nullifies popular votes. Until the EC is abolished nothing will change.

 

[bfdd]

So, you get the greater of two evils.

As I said above, people like you are going to devalue democracy - and put it at risk.

There's plenty - again as I said above - for you to push for to improve elections, but in the meantime, the lesser of two evils is an important choice. Bush v. Gore mattered.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!? We're EXERCISING our DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS by voting for WHOEVER we choose. Those who simply vote for the lesser of two evils to keep the "greater evil out" are those who are devaluing our democracy and destroying it with idiotic group think. YOU are the problem, YOU who picked a team OTHER than that of the USA when you decided to group yourself up with "progressives" and "Democrats". That became your "identity" not being an American. Pathetic waste of human.

 

[dank69]

i disagree, you're selling yourself out for what? nothing, because you won't get what you want. i won't let the tyranny of group think control my life.

I'm not selling myself out. I'm doing my personal best to prevent the worst.

My state went for Bush in 2000 and 2004. How exactly would I have "kept it from happening" by voting for the two idiots he ran against? The two choices in those elections were literally between "Dumb" or "Dumber."

Neither side has shown fiscal responsibility. You can scream about the Bush tax cuts all you want (they were irresponsible), but I don't consider the Democrat's health plan a wise idea either and you will see that because it has no cost containment provisions that changes will have to be made or costs will continue increasing.

I said you and the millions of others like you. Collectively, you let it happen.

 

[bfdd]

I'm not selling myself out. I'm doing my personal best to prevent the worst.

I said you and the millions of others like you. Collectively, you let it happen.

You be the change in the world you want to see, you should always be a revolution upon yourself. To simply mold into the status quo because it's "safe" is rather pathetic.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I said you and the millions of others like you. Collectively, you let it happen.

Know much about the electoral college and how various states divvy up their electoral votes?

Hint: If every state divided their electoral votes proportionally based on their state's popular vote results, you might have a point. However, since most states use an "all or nothing" approach, your point rings hollow to a large extent.

 

[soulcougher73]

Know much about the electoral college and how various states divvy up their electoral votes?

Hint: If every state divided their electoral votes proportionally based on their state's popular vote results, you might have a point. However, since most states use an "all or nothing" approach, your point rings hollow to a large extent.

I tried to educate them on the EC on the first page but people just skim over and as if its not important. It fucks up the whole voting system as it currently is. There are less then a handful of states that divy up the points based on popular vote percentages which is how it should be. Well if we are going to go that route you may as well just abolish the EC all together since at that point it wouldnt be needed. Which im all for. Fuck the EC and its vote nullifying.

 

[dank69]

You be the change in the world you want to see, you should always be a revolution upon yourself. To simply mold into the status quo because it's "safe" is rather pathetic.

to borrow your quote:

WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!?

I am not molding into the status quo. Evidence leads me to believe that the GOP is intent on destroying our country. Evidence leads me to believe the Democrats aren't perfect, but they are not intent on destroying the country. I will vote against the Republicans to try to help stop the destruction of my country until they start demonstrating that they are intent on saving my country. Voting 3rd party or not voting does not help acheive my goal. Voting Democrat is the only realistic way to acheive my goal.

The only thing that is pathetic in this thread is that anyone that does not vote is spitting in the face of the men and women that have lost their life defending your right to do so.

 

[dank69]

Know much about the electoral college and how various states divvy up their electoral votes?

Hint: If every state divided their electoral votes proportionally based on their state's popular vote results, you might have a point. However, since most states use an "all or nothing" approach, your point rings hollow to a large extent.

False. If people in Florida that think like you do had voted Democrat we would not be in the mess we are in today.

 

[bfdd]

to borrow your quote:

WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!?

I am not molding into the status quo. Evidence leads me to believe that the GOP is intent on destroying our country. Evidence leads me to believe the Democrats aren't perfect, but they are not intent on destroying the country. I will vote against the Republicans to try to help stop the destruction of my country until they start demonstrating that they are intent on saving my country. Voting 3rd party or not voting does not help acheive my goal. Voting Democrat is the only realistic way to acheive my goal.

The only thing that is pathetic in this thread is that anyone that does not vote is spitting in the face of the men and women that have lost their life defending your right to do so.

Evidence proves they're both trying to destroy the country. There is literally no difference between the two. They both have their and their pocket liners interests in hand, they do not care about us and they both just want to central plan their way to authoritarianism. Failures the lot of them, you cast your vote for a party, you cast your vote against America.

False. If people in Florida that think like you do had voted Democrat we would not be in the mess we are in today.

Or how about if everyone else thought like him? What then? We wouldn't have this problem either. That shit goes both fucking ways.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The only thing that is pathetic in this thread is that anyone that does not vote is spitting in the face of the men and women that have lost their life defending your right to do so.

On the contrary -- those fine people fought to secure my right to vote and part of that right is being allowed not to exercise it.

 

[bfdd]

On the contrary -- those fine people fought to secure my right to vote and part of that right is being allowed not to exercise it.

There are other ways to vote than casting a ballot, but what do they expect us to do? Take up arms every time someone we don't support is elected into office? I exercise my right to vote by not casting a ballot, which is the same as "none of the above" in our current system. Add the "none of the above" and you'll probably see a ton of people showing up to check those boxes.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

False. If people in Florida that think like you do had voted Democrat we would not be in the mess we are in today.

Florida in 2000 was a very rare occurrence. Try applying that logic to a state like Indiana (which goes Republican by wide margins nearly every time with the recent exception of 2008) and get back with me. Also, if the EC votes were distributed proportionally for every state as I previously mentioned, Gore would've won.

But, regardless, I do enjoy that you are basically saying or implying that people should vote for one of the two major parties regardless because third party votes are "wasted" votes.

 

[bfdd]

Florida in 2000 was a very rare occurrence. Try applying that logic to a state like Indiana (which goes Republican by wide margins nearly every time with the recent exception of 2008) and get back with me.

But, regardless, I do enjoy that you are basically saying or implying that people should vote for one of the two major parties regardless because third party votes are "wasted" votes.

IndyColtsFan, to much group think. Anything different than the group is a "problem" and a group can never look retrospectively inward on itself to maybe see that it is the "problem". A giant entity with no body, scary shit.

 

[dank69]

Evidence proves they're both trying to destroy the country. There is literally no difference between the two. They both have their and their pocket liners interests in hand, they do not care about us and they both just want to central plan their way to authoritarianism. Failures the lot of them, you cast your vote for a party, you cast your vote against America.

Let me try to explain it to you a different way. Suppose there is a vote coming up in your state on legalization of pot. The three options are fully legalize, decriminalize posession or continue with current criminalization. Whichever option get the most votes will be set into law. Everyone but you has voted and the tallies thus far are 10% for legalization, 45% for decriminalization and 45% for criminalization. Now, in a perfect world, you want full legalization. Decriminalization and criminalization have exactly the same number of votes and if the end result is a tie, criminalization stays in force. What do you do?

Or how about if everyone else thought like him? What then? We wouldn't have this problem either. That shit goes both fucking ways.

Explain this logic. Do you think we just wouldn't have a president?

 

[dank69]

Florida in 2000 was a very rare occurrence. Try applying that logic to a state like Indiana (which goes Republican by wide margins nearly every time with the recent exception of 2008) and get back with me.

And how many people didn't vote that day in Florida thinking their vote didn't matter?

Also, if the EC votes were distributed proportionally for every state as I previously mentioned, Gore would've won.

Great, that doesn't help us though because we do have the EC and have to vote accordingly.

But, regardless, I do enjoy that you are basically saying or implying that people should vote for one of the two major parties regardless because third party votes are "wasted" votes.

You have to look at the circumstances as they exist and vote the way that will make the most positive impact given your choices. If you think that is to vote third party, go for it. In hotly contested states in our current system, a third party vote when that third party candidate has no realistic chance of winning and one of the other two candidates is clearly worse for the country than the other, yes it would be a wasted vote in my eyes.

 

[bradley]

There are only two types of Americans ATM, those who are part of the status quo, and those who long for a part of it. Certainly, the remaining smattering fringe sees the entire process as futile.

Your vote only allows you to be better compartmentalized and therefore marginalized. Only vote if you want to send a message. Otherwise, it's meaningless.

 

[bfdd]

Let me try to explain it to you a different way. Suppose there is a vote coming up in your state on legalization of pot. The three options are fully legalize, decriminalize posession or continue with current criminalization. Whichever option get the most votes will be set into law. Everyone but you has voted and the tallies thus far are 10% for legalization, 45% for decriminalization and 45% for criminalization. Now, in a perfect world, you want full legalization. Decriminalization and criminalization have exactly the same number of votes and if the end result is a tie, criminalization stays in force. What do you do?



Explain this logic. Do you think we just wouldn't have a president?

what would I do? continue to do what I always do, enjoy my liberty. i'll share the information i have on the subject and move along. imo the governments we have are mostly worthless with their arbitrary treatment of law and liberty.

why would the population listen to someone who was voted in by 20% of the population? lols, tyranny of the minority right there.

 

[dank69]

what would I do? continue to do what I always do, enjoy my liberty. i'll share the information i have on the subject and move along. imo the governments we have are mostly worthless with their arbitrary treatment of law and liberty.

why would the population listen to someone who was voted in by 20% of the population? lols, tyranny of the minority right there.

Are you saying you wouldn't vote at all? Knowing that if you did vote, you could make life better for everyone in your state?

 

[bfdd]

Are you saying you wouldn't vote at all? Knowing that if you did vote, you could make life better for everyone in your state?

I vote for what I believe in. I believe those things will make life better for everyone in my state. If the others don't agree, oh well, I guess those like me and myself didn't do a good enough job educating others before they voted. I have other methods of getting my "vote" out, but like I said I don't think most would appreciate fringe groups picking up arms every time they get out voted. I would have no issue going down that path if those who got their policies or people elected decided to use that tyranny to infringe on my liberty, but I'm not going to do it every time I disagree with someone. I'm not some idiot violent barbarian.

 

[dank69]

I vote for what I believe in. I believe those things will make life better for everyone in my state. If the others don't agree, oh well, I guess those like me and myself didn't do a good enough job educating others before they voted. I have other methods of getting my "vote" out, but like I said I don't think most would appreciate fringe groups picking up arms every time they get out voted. I would have no issue going down that path if those who got their policies or people elected decided to use that tyranny to infringe on my liberty, but I'm not going to do it every time I disagree with someone. I'm not some idiot violent barbarian.

Answer the question please. In the hypothetical circumstance I described above, would you vote or not? If you would vote, which option would you vote for?

 

[soulcougher73]

Answer the question please. In the hypothetical circumstance I described above, would you vote or not? If you would vote, which option would you vote for?

I'll play your little hypothetical game.I would have voted to legalize it. So it wouldnt have changed anything. But you also have to remember what you are descirbing is a popular vote system. The presidential election is not a popular vote system..it should be though.